[ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: brad paisley's new album comes out april 9th. you can see a bonus song at jimmykimmellive.com. thanks to brad, thanks to ryan gosling, thanks to will farrell. apologizes to matt damon, we ran out of time. tomorrow, dr. oz and music from bruno mars. thanks for watching. stay up. watch "nightline." good night.

tonight on a special edition of "nightline," the big day, more than half a million americans stream into washington to watch president barack obama take the oath of office once more and deliver a history-making call to action. the big night, the stars, the glamour and the gowns. with the inauguration balls winding down just a short time ago we bring you washington's biggest night out. and the big crowd. our own bill weir on the streets of the capital with families from across the country to find out what this day means to them. a special edition of

this special edition of "nightline," inauguration 2013 continues with terry moran. >> hello and thanks for joining

us on this inauguration night. an american ritual and a grand party. president barack obama took the oath of office for a second time. the massive crowd out there on the national mall there to witness it all as a vast and divided nation paused to take note and listen. he was having a blast. [ cheers and applause ] on pennsylvania avenue, in the reviewing stand with his family. at lunch with congressional leaders. and up on the capital's west front, barack obama relished every moment of his second inauguration. >> that i will faithfully execute the office of president of the united states. >> a sea of people stretching

down the mall. not as many as four years ago but still more than half a million strong, witnessed the grand ritual that every four years confirms american democracy in a uniquely american way. ♪ glory glory hallelujah >> but this was more than just a celebration. president obama is a president renewed in office by the votes of 65 million americans. he is a president with a purpose. >> my fellow americans we are made for this moment and we will see that so long as we seize it together -- >> this moment, it's more than the pomp and ceremony. for while inaugurations may be full of traditions, obama taking the oath on two bibles one abraham lincolns and one martin

luther king jr.'s or the 21 gun salute or the trumpets blowing fanfare, inaugurations tell us something deeper about ourselves and the president we have chosen to lead us. >> we have always understood that when times change, so must we. >> change. this time around that word means something else to barack obama. he used his second inauguration to make an saw dags claim that the coalition that elected him is the next america, the rising generation and he spoke directly to and for them. it was a new american progressivism unleashed. >> for we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. we will respond to the threat of climate change knowing that the

failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. >> and you could see in the vast crowd this was a moment won after fierce id logical combat and hard political work. before the speech we spent some time among them. >> these are some of the best seats for the inauguration. who gets them? spouses and members of the house of representatives and they are great seats. just a few yards from where the president takes the oath of office. others who get this close? big donors for sure, the well connected and old friends. >> well, in most ways he's still the same guy. >> the same guy you knew? >> a heart as big as the world. >> john bellcastor was barack obama's law partner doing civil rights work in chicago from 1993

to 2003. >> in our law firm he never raised his voice. the no drama obama you hear about today was that way back in 1993. >> and dotting the crowd the young celebrities drawn to obama. katie berry and john mayer and jeffrey wright who spoke of the hope of the day. >> it's about the hope of the country and the example we set to the world in terms of free and working democracy. and it's about partnership and it's about what you know, the common ground between all of us as americans. and so, you know, if this doesn't illustrate that then we have a lot of hard work to do. >> and the musical artists mostly represented the young 21st century artists like kelly clarkson. ♪ >> and an obama favorite and

friend, beyonce. ♪ for the ramparts we watched ♪ were so gallantly streaming >> we the people, declare today that the most evident of truths, that all of us are created equal. it is the star that guides us still. just as it guided our forebearers through seneca falls and selma and stonewall. >> he was weaving the new tapestry of america as he sees it for the first time in an inaugural address mentioning gay rights calling for marriage equality. >> our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law. for if we are truly created equal then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. >> and with an eye on the immigration reform he has

promised and the 68% of the hispanic vote he won. >> clearly the president has an agenda that he wants to pursue in his second term. some republicans may not agree with that agenda. but i thought his speech was american and patriotic. it was uplifting. >> ♪ oh, say does that -- >> as he left the podium for the lunch and the parade and the celebrations, barack obama wanted to pause, to linger, and to look once more. ♪ >> the road ahead is hard. for him and for our divided country. but today at least, it was fun. >> a man, a president with a purpose and an agenda. a progressive agenda, no

question about it. just ahead, after that day of ceremony and speeches a night of celebration. the music, the celebrities, the gowns and the dances. >> abc news "nightline" brought to you by allstate. my ex-girlfriend... 7th grade math teacher. who is this? that's pete. my... [ dennis' voice ] allstate agent. a "starving artist" has an allstate agent? he got me... [ dennis' voice ] the allstate value plan. it's their most affordable car insurance and you still get an agent. [ normal voice ] i call it... [ dennis' voice ] the protector. is that what you call it? the protector! okay. ♪ the allstate value plan. are you in good hands?

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after a day of pomp and circumstance a night of celebration. just a short time ago the famous, well connected and the lucky danced their last dance at the inaugural ball. despite all the stars, the night

belonged to the obamas and the first lady's shimmery ruby gown that claimed its place in fashion history. >> reporter: it was their first dance the second time around. >> ♪ >> reporter: there were only two official balls this year, practically austere by inaugural standards but the obamas proved they still know how to throw a party. ♪ obama's on fire >> reporter: alicia keys and stevie wonder played to a crowd of thousands decked out in black tie and a lot of sparkle. but the celebrities creed the spotlight for the stars of the night the president and the first lady. while the day was all about barack obama. >> some may dispute the quality

of our president but no one disputes the quality of our first lady. ladies and gentlemen, my better half and my dance partner, michelle obama. >> reporter: tonight was all about michelle. mrs. obama wowed in a ruby chiffon gown by jason wu the same designer she wore four years ago at the last inauguration. ♪ at last my love has come along ♪ >> reporter: back then she stepped out on stage in a white dress by the then little known designer. his career skyrocketed. >> any time mrs. obama wears one of your designs a fashion designer ascends. it doesn't happen with any first lady but it happens with mrs.

obama. >> reporter: from behind it was all about that sexy low back. but from the front, check out those bangs. >> i believe the bangs are a metaphor and it sends a very striking sound and symbol and i think she looks wonderful. >> reporter: call it michelle 2.0. her first four years made her a style i con. >> it has changed the game for women in america. you can dress on a budget. >> reporter: of course tonight's dress was hardly a bargain. but the ball goers approved on the splurge. >> what do you think of the cress? >> amazing. >> beautiful. >> stunning. >> reporter: they didn't look bad themselves. this is after all washington's biggest night out. a chance for these die-hard democrats to break out their best bling. but what is a girl to do if she has a fashion emergency smack in the heart of the nation's

capital? designer room service of course. inside the lobby of a fancy hotel is a luxury goods empire for v.i.p.s who need last-minute finery. >> we are talking about high-roller donors. >> i think most of the people at the inauguration are. >> reporter: martha is the general manager of the neiman marcus store in d.c. she gave us a tour inside the st. regis hotel whether they are selling bedazzled ties. >> inaugural bling. >> reporter: to spanx. >> this is a requirement. >> that is under a lot of dresses. >> reporter: and jewelled handbags. this purse will set you back more than five grand. >> what is a girl going to put in a purse like this? >> lipstick. >> but she sold one this weekend not to mention a few furs. a mink stole is an essential

because the lines for the coat checks stretch on for miles. >> a little red fox. >> it looks patriotic. >> reporter: but while barack obama once envisioned an america with no red states or blue states at the inaugural ball the country is united in sequins. >> got to have democratic sparkle. >> absolutely. >> what is an inaugural ball must? >> flats. >> reporter: but the hottest ticket of the weekend is still to come. tomorrow night the president hosts his campaign staff at a private party where they will be serenaded by lady gaga. after that it will be time to get down to the business of running the country and the task of rolling up the sleeves. >> thanks. looking lovely along with the others there. next bill weir reports from the crowd at the capital to ask

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one man, two bibles and more than 500,000 americans packed into the streets of washington for a chance to see history in the making. it was the sight of that crowd that made president obama pause today to take it all in one last time. and my co anchor bill weir was out there talking to those taking it in. >> reporter: before the dawn broke the die-hards were there resting up for a big day. but when the sky turns pink it's time to rouse and move. the lines of obama faithful are on the march again with numbers that have the hawkers hoping for a stimulus.

four years ago the promise of history. >> we drove through eight hours through the snow and everything. >> why? >> look at this. why wouldn't you want to be here. it's one of the most amazing events i'll ever see. >> nearly 2 million turned up to see poetry that day. but one term later the prose of governing cut the number in half. but for those who did come the re-election is good enough reason to bundle up or in rare case dress down. >> there are republicans out there going there's an obama voter right there. >> i'm a republican. >> is that right? >> yes. >> what are you doing here today? >> mostly because i think we should support our president. >> obama! >> for every republican sighting there were 10,000 democrats. >> this moment was savored by all sorts of americans but it was especially powerful for

african-americans one of their own sworn in on martin luther king's bible on martin luther king day. that is a divine convergence for these two from charlotte. >> i voted and i'm here and ready to celebrate. >> and cameron from chicago. >> how early did you get up? >> 6:00. >> 6:00 a.m.? >> yep. >> how many layers are you wearing? >> four. >> and mable from south carolina. four years ago she insulated herself with pictures of her an centers, freed slaves and sharecroppers. but today she was back. for them. >> mable it's great to see you again. >> great to see you guys. i hope you brought your photos again. >> they were sharecroppers in south carolina. >> what do you you think they would make of a day like this? >> oh, my goodness.

they really wouldn't have words. we thought -- we never thought we'd live to see this. >> reporter: rather than ease racial tensions the first obama term has made them worse. mable disagrees. >> how would you characterize the level of race relations in today? >> it's a thousand times better. i love america. i don't want to live anywhere else. it's best place to live in the world. >> regardless -- >> if we had to do it over again i would not change a thing. i'll be back in four years. >> with the coat? >> with the coat. every year it will have more people in it. >> beautiful. >> reporter: and then joan and reginald green. they were here 50 years ago when dr. king spoke of his dream at the feet of lincoln. before that they were jailed in jackson, mississippi as defiant freedom riders risking life, limb and liberty for the cause of civil rights.

and four years ago they were in tears as barack obama fulfilled the dream. >> it was just joyous. >> reporter: here they were again today, living proof of how far america can come in one lifetime. and like much of the crowd they were more subdued and reflective than they were during the first oath. >> every president has shortcomings and all have great hopes and dreams going into it and the cold hard reality of washington politics hits. >> what stories do you tell from this era to help kids understand how big this is. >> we went from this to this in your lifetime. >> the young persons found a cause and a reason to do what we did. there are causes that they, too, can find. >> what do you say to the 47% of americans who voted the other way? >> there are many points that we can all agree on. let's find those and work from there.